Kenya, Sept. 2 -- Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner threatened to leave the club if star defender Marc Guehi was sold to Liverpool, creating a stunning deadline-day drama that has gripped Premier League fans and resulting in the collapse of the Marc Guehi Liverpool deal on September 1, 2025. Despite Liverpool agreeing a £35 million fee with Palace, Guehi completing a medical in London, and a deal sheet being submitted to extend negotiations, the move fell apart after Palace's attempt to sign a replacement defender, Brighton's Igor Julio, collapsed.
Julio opted for West Ham instead, leaving Glasner adamant about retaining his captain for the upcoming season. This Marc Guehi Liverpool deal collapse not only secures Guehi's short-term future at Selhurst Park but also highlights the tensions between squad stability and financial gains in modern football transfers.
The saga unfolded amid intense pressure as the transfer window closed at 7pm UK time. Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, had targeted the 25-year-old England international to bolster their defence after Jarell Quansah's departure to Bayer Leverkusen.
Guehi, who joined Palace from Chelsea in 2021 for around £18 million, has been a cornerstone, making 155 appearances and captaining the side to their historic FA Cup win over Manchester City in May 2025-the club's first major trophy.
His composure, aerial prowess, and leadership shone in Palace's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on August 31, where he even scored a stunning goal, earning player-of-the-match honours.
With only one year left on his contract, Palace chairman Steve Parish was open to the sale to avoid losing him for free in 2026, but Glasner vetoed it without a suitable incoming player. Glasner's stance was clear from the start. After the Villa win, he told Sky Sports, "We have to keep Marc if we want to play a successful season. If we don't have the right replacement, for me it's clear to keep him."
Reports emerged that the Austrian coach, who led Palace to European qualification via the FA Cup triumph, went further in heated talks with Parish, reportedly threatening to resign if Guehi departed without defensive reinforcement.
Palace had lined up two potential replacements: 19-year-old French talent Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse for £20.8 million and Igor Julio on loan from Brighton. Canvot's signing went through, providing long-term potential, but Glasner viewed him as too inexperienced for immediate impact.
Efforts to secure Igor failed when West Ham hijacked the deal, and late bids for AC Milan's Strahinja Pavlovi or Chelsea's Axel Disasi didn't materialise.
Palace also added Christantus Uche on loan from Getafe, but that was more attacking depth than defensive cover. For Liverpool, the Marc Guehi Liverpool deal collapse is a blow to their defensive plans.
Slot's side has conceded six goals in their first three Premier League games, including blowing two-goal leads against Bournemouth and Newcastle, despite fighting back to win.
With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez as senior options-plus young signing Giovanni Leoni from Parma-the Reds are not short, but Guehi's Premier League pedigree and England caps (23 appearances, key in Euro 2024's final run) made him ideal.
Personal terms for a five-year deal to 2030 were agreed, but now Liverpool may eye a January return or wait until summer 2026 for a free transfer, though competition from abroad could arise as Guehi can sign pre-contracts soon.
Palace fans are overjoyed, with Guehi's professionalism praised throughout-he even refrained from a farewell gesture after the Villa game.
However, financially, forgoing £35 million stings, especially after selling Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £67 million earlier in the window.
Glasner's intervention underscores his commitment to a successful season, including Palace's debut in the UEFA Conference League. The club now enters Europe with a settled backline but risks losing Guehi for nothing next year unless he signs anew-which he's indicated against.
This episode in the Marc Guehi Liverpool deal collapse exemplifies deadline-day chaos, where managerial influence can override boardroom deals. Glasner's bold stand, potentially risking his position amid links to bigger clubs post-Erik ten Hag's Leverkusen sacking, prioritises on-pitch success over immediate cash.
For Guehi, the son of a church minister known for his grounded demeanour, staying put allows focus on captaining Palace through their European adventure. Liverpool, meanwhile, shifts gears to integrate recent signings like Alexander Isak and others in their title defence.
As the dust settles on this transfer twist, the Marc Guehi Liverpool deal collapse leaves Palace stronger defensively and Liverpool pondering alternatives, setting up intriguing subplots for the 2025-26 season. Fans will watch closely as Guehi's future unfolds, potentially reigniting in January.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.